Larry Richardson, B. Commerce | Biography

I began my career in the craft sector at BC Tel, and after attaining a Bachelor of Commerce I spent ten years as an Excavator Operator and Maintenance Welder before

becoming a Certified Welding Inspector. My welding experiences lead me to a position in industrial sales and technical welding support for Air Liquide Canada. I then became a Plant Superintendent in the Galvanizing Industry where I worked with diverse industries, multi-cultural staff, and always sought to develop excellent employees by investing in their work and personal interests.

I then became a Program Standards Manager in the ITA Apprenticeship System for four years where I deepened my commitment to developing people and the value of good standards to target this goal. In this role I developed, maintained, and directed the standards of 22 trades across several sectors. This required ensuring that training standards and learning outcomes matched Industry demands. In order to discern both the current and future requirements for these trades, I gathered information from Industry, worked with subject matter experts from the floor, and gained direction form the major “C” suites of the province. To address interprovincial trade needs I worked with the Alberta Industry Training authority, and for Red Seal endorsement programs I worked with HRSDC and the system in Ottawa. Thus, I gained a nuanced understanding and genuine appreciation for the complexities of a national system based upon interprovincial agreement amidst passionate and divergent viewpoints.

I sit as a member of two of the ITA’s Sector Advisory Groups: the Construction Sector Advisory Group and the Mining Industry Advisory Group. Each group is charged with reviewing the Labour Market Information data used to inform the ITA on the financial allotment to each trade based on anticipated demand for the future. Innovation, responsive change, problem-solving, and working with people have been the common links through all my career choices.

Currently, I am the BC Training Director for CLAC. In my position I have the opportunity to work with many different groups across a wide variety of trades. This multi-trade, multi-sector environment allows for innovation. I am also a Board member of BC Skills and the Aboriginal Skills Group. Both of these groups involve working with learners, introducing them to the trades, and assessing and developing their skills. I am passionate in my commitment to helping those that want a career in the trades find suitable apprenticeships. I am also passionate in helping those that are not suited to discern new and better employment pathways.